|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 12:27:29 GMT
During the winter I don't really need a fridge in the van but over the warmer months, to save having to shop daily for milk, salad, meat, cheese etc, I do need one as I'm wasting a lot of food.
I have a 12v electric mini fridge which fits a litre of milk, packet of bacon and cheese and which was wired in via my smartcom so that it was powered above about 12.6v (when engine was running) but it switched off when the volts dropped below that.
For the space it took up, I didn't think it was particularly useful as it was only as good as a cool box when parked up.
So I've been trying various methods for a while - wrapping insulation around a plastic milk jug, putting milk in a tall plastic tub with water in it, terracotta wine coolers etc. All have helped to prolong the life of milk but none were great and didn't solve the food problem. But the best one was the terracotta wine cooler stood in plastic tub with water in the bottom.
Then I came across this idea...
(to be continued once I've uploaded photos... Watch this space...)
|
|
|
Post by outtolunch on Jul 2, 2014 13:08:50 GMT
if you had said you had wanted a fridge there is 3 way one in my summerhouse doing nothing
but it would mean lots of hole cutting in the side of your van
|
|
|
Post by n brown on Jul 2, 2014 13:41:10 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 17:17:39 GMT
Sorry, got side tracked looking for photos, ended up spending allow afternoon sorting out photo files and photos on laptops and hard disk drives and doing back ups.
Anyway, here's some pics...
The new improved milk fridge using terracotta wine chiller, the bottom part of a yoghurt maker found at back me a cupboard, some sand and the top half of a pop bottle...
Bugger, I'm using mobile phone and it won't let me upload them... Wait out...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 17:22:53 GMT
if you had said you had wanted a fridge there is 3 way one in my summerhouse doing nothing but it would mean lots of hole cutting in the side of your van Thanks v much, but same problem as gas heater, not enough space because of layout and dog's cage, and would need to find someone to do it for me. Not needed in winter so have decided to not to bother. And I'd prefer an eco (and free to run) version if possible.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 17:43:57 GMT
Et voila... Attachment Deleted Attachment Deleted Attachment DeletedIt works a treat with damp sand in bottom and soaking the wind cooler in cold water for 10 mins before putting it in the yoghurt maker. Total cost = £2 for wine cooler I made another exactly the same for a second carton of milk or bottle of wine, as I serendipidously found another yoghurt maker and wine cooler which fitted inside it, for £2 each in the Age Concern warehouse the other day
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 18:01:28 GMT
Based on the same principle, I have made a small terracotta fridge for cheese, meat, salad etc, using a terracotta Rumtopf which I picked up at a car boot sale a couple of weeks ago for £2 (the germans use these for brewing fruit based liquers - add fruit, add alcohol and sugar, then leave for a few months, topping up regularly with alcohol). Others use these as oven ware. I put some damp sand in a large flat tupperware box, which can be regularly topped up or sprayed with water, then sit the Rumtopf in it after soaking in water, cover with damp tea towel, and then put a plastic germinating tray cover over it. Total cost = £2 for rumtopf, £2.99 for the plastic lid, I already had the tupperware box for the bottom.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 18:16:19 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Firefox on Jul 2, 2014 18:25:21 GMT
This may be useful for me as sometimes I don't fancy putting the gas on with just a couple of items in the fridge. It gets through quite a bit of gas when it is on all the time. Gas fridge is fine for big weekend meets and convoys etc but most of the time I don't feel I can justify it. Do need something to cool the beer, wine, and fizzy water though!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 18:31:08 GMT
The terracotta wine chillers really are good - soak them in water first, the plastic pop bottle lid makes a big difference.
|
|
|
Post by outtolunch on Jul 2, 2014 19:05:21 GMT
This may be useful for me as sometimes I don't fancy putting the gas on with just a couple of items in the fridge. It gets through quite a bit of gas when it is on all the time. Gas fridge is fine for big weekend meets and convoys etc but most of the time I don't feel I can justify it. Do need something to cool the beer, wine, and fizzy water though! if you buy real ale from micro breweries in a polypin they keep well with a wet towel draped over a soggy card outer or if on cans and bottles in a bucket of water with towels dipped in and running down the sides keeps them drinkable but they are best kept in the shade with a breeze for maximum effect
|
|
|
Post by Ems&Beau on Jul 3, 2014 6:24:03 GMT
I've just been reading up after seeing this thread, I think I'll have a go at making one as I don't want to fit a fridge in my van. Will it work in a hot van though, I'm guessing it will be best put under the van when parked up?!
|
|
|
Post by outtolunch on Jul 3, 2014 8:17:52 GMT
as they work by evaporation of water they will work in a hot van until the relative humidity reaches 100% and as usually when it is hot in this country it is also high humidity they are best used where there is a slight breeze to disperse the evaporating water but not too much breeze that it dissipates the cooling effect of the evaporation and as with any fridge the cooler the surroundings the better. you could go high tech with various ventilation holes in the outer skin and fans but also location in the van will help low down is always cooler and some vans have vents at low level by these would be the best place to keep one.
|
|
|
Post by Firefox on Jul 3, 2014 8:25:21 GMT
Just had a brainwave... my propex will blow cold air on one setting, and I could place my cooler on the bed step by the fan outlet. When the sun is shining there is plenty of current flowing from the solar panel to operate the propez fan.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2014 9:44:45 GMT
I have a 12v fan for the dogs when left in the van in hot weather, I've also got a USB one.
In fact, I just remembered I have a USB cooling fan tray that my lap top sits on at home, that would be perfect. And it's much quieter than the fans.
|
|
|
Post by robmac on Jul 4, 2014 15:18:41 GMT
|
|